I Think I am 100 Years Old

During my time in Turkey, I have often witnessed social situations when a person earns respect dependent on their status in society or their wealth. It is a part of Turkish life that I loath as more often than not, the same people have no moral ethics or mutual respect for other people.

I instead prefer the term that “respect should be earned and not given”. However, last week, I met an old woman who earned my respect in an instant.

The 100 year old woman. Or maybe she is older?

Perhaps I was more delighted to make her acquaintance, as it was an unplanned meeting. We were wandering remote roads in the village of Maral, not a long distance from the border with Georgia. This area of Turkey has not fallen prey to the trappings of mass tourism that has blighted the west and south coast.

Traditions and cultures are still visible in everyday life and the high mountains, dipping valleys and masses of pine tree forests, ensure that any greedy developers with plans for a concentrate jungle would have to focus their ambitions on other destinations.

My meeting with the old woman happened because we unintentionally came across a local beekeeper tending to his hives in the garden. On the doorstep of his old wooden house sat the woman, introduced to us as his great grand mum. We asked her age and the response was

“I am not sure but I know I am more than 100”

Even without knowing her exact age, she had sparked my interest. I could see in her appearance that her life experiences would be enough to write a history book ten times over.

Her Life Over the Last Century

She remembered when the region was under Russian rule and their soldiers were patrolling the mountain roads. As a young girl, she recalled riding a horse as the popularity of the modern car had not spread to the region.

She told us about turbulent times when the Turkish war of independence was declared in 1919. As a child, she first heard the name of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, who was leading the war and would later become the founder of Turkey.

In 1923, victory was celebrated and the borders of current day Turkey were under discussion. Locals of the village gathered to attend a meeting and were told to choose whether they wanted to be under the soviet rule of Russia (current day Georgia) or be Turkish citizens.

Her mother was adamant her family would be citizens of the Republic of Turkey.

The old woman showed no hesitation in giving me permission to take her photograph, instead more interested as to how the photo was instantly shown to her on the playback screen of my digital camera.

She has lived a great and colourful life, yet still took time to welcome strangers with overwhelming hospitality. This woman immediately has my respect. She is worth ten of any rich, famous, or powerful person in society who instead desires the false respect of those around them.

Reader’s question: What do you think? Has this woman automatically earned your respect?

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Hi. My name is Natalie Sayin and this blog is a collection of personal articles about my travels in Turkey as well as my thoughts on culture, traditions and the Turkish way of life Read my story here or keep up to date with posts by joining me on Facebook.

Comments

Hi Jennifer, I would like to have known more but I was using a translator as the level of Turkish spoken was higher than my basic understanding. I was also very weary about being intrusive because meeting her was not planned.

Money and/or social status should be the last thing we respect, but oftentimes — and perhaps even most of the time — it is the first thing respected. A life well lived, and especially a long life, are things to respect, to remember, and strive for.

It is really amazing how wise those really old people are. They don’t care about their age and why would they? It doesn’t mean anything. At the same time she cares about greeting and talking to a stranger and that might mean a lot to that person.

Just read about the old lady and your report is really interesting. You make it very enjoyable to read and I would love to find the time to sit down and read more about your interesting travels across Turkey. Keep up the good work. Love Sheila. xo

I remember the first time when a young man jumped up to let an elderly man take a seat in a very crowded city bus in Istanbul. I was nearly bowled over! I witnessed it again and again, I even was offered a seat myself when a youngster jumped up to me and offered “Amca, otur…” Hmmm, did not know my age showed that much. 🙁
My last years in Stamboul I saw this behaviour less and less, creeping urbanisation I suppose…

I have often wondered John, if the younger generation of Turkey are losing their culture, traditions and manners. Perhaps because I saw it happen in the UK and you may have seen it in the USA. People used to offer chairs in the UK to the elderly and then the next generation were not taught manners and this simple gesture disappeared. Shame on them

I have been wondering where you are Natalie, lovely to get your post in my inbox! And what a pleasure to meet this wonderful lady, you can tell she has seen it all. She earns my respect big time too; honest, sincere, welcoming and so open-minded. So glad you had a chance to meet her. I lived in southeastern part of Turkey, in Elazig, for 8 years, when I was a child. Locals are so warm and welcoming and they mean it. Many thanks for sharing her with us.

Sometimes the best things in life happen when you least expect it! What a great encounter!

My grandmother will turn 100 this August. She lived through the US depression years, was one of 10 children, lived on a small farm and is still hanging in there. It’s hard to imagine what a person has seen and experienced in that time.

That’s so amazing – I would love to live to 100, so I’m always amazed to hear the stories of those who have had such a long life.

This is random, but I was reading a science article last week which posited that people who are currently under 40 might live to be 200!! That’s only if (and it’s a big IF) the technology gets it together, lol.